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Not all relationships are conducted face-to-face. The rise of internet-mediated communication has led to new forms of relationship, while the ubiquity of media has generated interest in parasocial relationships — one-sided attachments to media figures. This lesson examines how relationships form and develop online, and why people develop attachments to celebrities and fictional characters.
Key Definition: A virtual relationship (or computer-mediated communication, CMC) is a relationship that is primarily conducted through online channels — such as social media, dating apps, email, or forums — rather than face-to-face.
One of the most striking features of virtual relationships is that people often disclose more about themselves online than they would face-to-face. This phenomenon is known as the online disinhibition effect (Suler, 2004).
Reasons for increased self-disclosure online include:
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